NL-Day211 Jeremiah 19-20; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 3:10-4:21
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
Release Date: 07/26/2026
NL-Day235 1 Chronicles 2; Proverbs 14:1-18; Ephesians 3
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1CHRONICLES 2:Yesterday we traced from Adam to Noah, and the genealogy to Abraham. Then we heard of Abraham’s two other families, those descending from Keturah and the sons and rulers descended from Esau. So now we take up Jacob’s descendants, but in this book he is frequently called by his other name, Israel. (GNT has used ‘Jacob’ instead in this chapter, as it is more understandable for modern readers.) PROVERBS 14a:This chapter has one of my all-time favorite proverbs: 4 NLT Without oxen a stable stays clean,but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.//GNT Without any oxen...
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NL-Day_234 1Chronicles 1; Proverbs 13.12-25; Ephesians 3
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1 CHRONICLES 1:Jewish and Christian traditions hold that Jeremiah was the author of 1&2 Kings, which were originally one book. And that Ezra, the priest, wrote 1&2 Chronicles, which are also one book in the Hebrew. It may be that Ezra wrote these books after his return to Jerusalem. The Greek Septuagint names this book Paraleipomena, which means ‘things left over’. This book does supplement things not found in other books. Compared to the books of Samuel and Kings, Chronicles focuses more on the spiritual misdeeds of the kings and the importance of worshiping the Lord properly...
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NL-Day233 Lamentations 4-5; Proverbs 13:1-13; Ephesians 2
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
LAMENTATIONS 4-5: In yesterday's reading, the sun pierced the dark clouds with this glorious section: Lam. 3:22 NLT The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Those are only the most frequently quoted verses. There are many other precious verses in Lamentations chapter 3. PROVERBS 13a: Here is a favorite proverb from today’s reading: Pro....
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NL-Day232 Lamentations 3; Proverbs 12:14-28; Ephesians 2
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
LAMENTATIONS 3:A warning for the modern times is here in chapter 2: Lam. 2:14 NLT Your prophets have saidso many foolish things, false to the core.They did not save you from exileby pointing out your sins.Instead, they painted false pictures,filling you with false hope. The last so poignant line from yesterday’s reading was, 22 … “The enemy has killed all the childrenwhom I carried and raised.” Today Jeremiah again speaks in the first person. PROVERBS 12b:A favorite verse to introduce today’s proverbs: Pro. 12:23 NLT The wise don't make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast...
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NL-Day231 Lamentations 1-2; Proverbs 12:1-15; Ephesians 1
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
LAMENTATIONS 1-2:In the early chapters of his book, Jeremiah spoke several times of his tears. Lamentations will help us to understand how this ‘weeping prophet’ felt, and how God mourned also. This book has been a comfort to many who mourn. Light breaks through in the middle— in chapter 3, with words that are used in one of our greatest hymns. The book ends with poignant questions to God. PROVERBS 12a:A favorite verse to introduce today’s proverbs: 12 NLT Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit. Rereading EPHESIANS 1:This...
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NL-Day230 Jeremiah 52; Proverbs 11:16-31; Ephesians 1
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
JEREMIAH 52:We come to the addendum to Jeremiah— seemingly written by someone else, perhaps Baruch. I commented yesterday how chapter 51 foreshadows Revelation 18. Jeremiah was prophesying the downfall of the real city of Babylon.What he foretold happened around 70 years later. His prophecy includes details about the enemies being from Media, about the drunkenness of the Babylon’s leaders, and God proclaims more than once that Babylon will become a desert for all time to come. The famous hanging gardens of Babylon would never be restored, even though Sadam Hussein wanted to see that...
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NL-Day229 Jeremiah 51; Proverbs 11:1-16; 1 John 4:15-5:21
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
JEREMIAH 51:Today the Lord continues the long prophecy against Babylon. This chapter foreshadows what will happen to the figurative Babylon in Revelation 18. PROVERBS 11a:An important thing I didn’t mention before is that these proverbs represent principles, not promises. This particularly needs to be remembered for verses that talk about prosperity. There will be times, such as what Jeremiah experienced, when no amount of Godly living will bring us wealth. However, the principles hold true. 1JOHN 4.15—5:John has been giving us important keys that will unlock assurance and victory in our...
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NL-Day228 Jeremiah 50; Proverbs 10:16-32; 1 John 3:19-4:21
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
JEREMIAH 50:Finally after hearing messages prophesying against so many nations, always telling or implying that the Babylonians would be God’s instrument to punish them, now this long chapter tells how Babylon will finally be judged as well, and God will return to take pity on Israel. PROVERBS 10b:Here is an example of Hebrew parallelism from today’s 2nd half of Proverbs 10: Pro. 10:23 NLT Doing wrong is fun for a fool,but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. ‘Fool’ and ‘the sensible’ oppose each other. “Doing wrong is fun for a fool,” and it seems like...
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NL-Day227 Jeremiah 49; Proverbs 10:1-17; 1 John 2:28-3:24
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
JEREMIAH 49:Having heard bad news about Egypt, Philistia, and Moab, we now hear the bad news for the nations of Ammon and Edom, the city of Damascus, and the nations of Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. PROVERBS 10a:From here on in Proverbs we’ll go a bit slower, by half chapters, because each verse is a separate gem of wisdom. Almost all of these verses are examples of Hebrew parallelism. This means that the two lines of a couplet mutually comment on each other. Let’s take verse 2 as an example: Pro. 10:2 NLT Tainted wealth has no lasting value,but right living can save your life. ‘Tainted...
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NL-Day226 Jeremiah 48; Proverbs 9; 1 John 2
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
JEREMIAH 48:In yesterday’s reading, the Lord began giving oracles about different nations, with one chapter concerning Egypt and the next one about Philistia. Today we’ll hear about Moab. PROVERBS 9:Today’s chapter is the last of the thematic chapters at the beginning of this book. Lady Wisdom speaks, and we find that she is opposed by Lady [Folly/Stupidity]. 1JOHN 2:John continues to address us as his dear children, and tells us things that we must know in order to be on guard and remain in fellowship with the Father and the Son. NLT Translation notes:Pro. 9:7 Anyone who rebukes a...
info_outlineJEREMIAH 19-20:
In yesterday’s reading, we again heard some often-quoted verses. These verses come just after verses in chapter 17 where the Lord himself beautifully paraphrased Psalm 1:
Jer. 17:9 NLT “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
Then in chapter 18, we also heard the famous passage about the Lord being like a potter, which Paul refers to in Romans 9.
PSALM 147:
Again this is quite a contrast with Jeremiah’s feelings which we just read! This is our second Hallelujah psalm. And hallelujah has been translated according to its meaning here as “Praise the LORD.” This psalm has incredible depth.
1CORINTHIANS 3:10—4:21
Paul is still ‘going on about’ the same thing. He is going to return to the subject of himself and Apollos in chapter 4— which summarizes the division in the Corinthian church. To give the connection, let’s start reading at chapter 3 verse 10.
NLT Translation notes:
1Cor. 4:7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t [just] given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
10 Our dedication to Christ [paradoxically] makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.
13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. [0/Yet] we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.